Santa Clarita Public Library officials are inviting community members to celebrate the release of the new film “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” and the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien with special themed activities and programming beginning this week until Dec. 15.

All three library branches and several community partners will offer two weeks of free programs, movie screenings and literary discussions including:

• Monday, Dec. 1 through Monday, Dec. 15 – All Santa Clarita Public Library branches, including Canyon Country, Old Town Newhall and Valencia, invite patrons to test their luck at guessing the total number of swords on display.

Each branch will also host a hobbit scavenger hunt around the library.

• Winners will receive a pair of tickets (260 total tickets will be given away) to the private screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. – The Valencia Library branch will host an engaging book discussion on the literary classic “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien.
• Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. – Hosted at the Valencia Library branch, Tolkien expert Cliff Broadway, who also serves as a senior writer/editor of TheOneRing.net, will present “The Hobbit – Then and Now,” a review of all adaptations of “The Hobbit” story, culminating in a preview of how Peter Jackson will wrap up his current Hobbit film trilogy.
• Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. – Join Professor Diana Glyer of Azusa Pacific University at the Jo Anne Darcy Canyon Country Library branch as she shares about J.R.R. Tolkien’s friendship with C.S. Lewis.
• Glyer will touch on their relationship, its profound influence on the books he was writing, and how one lunch changed Tolkien’s tales of Hobbits, Wizards, and Black Riders.

After each event referenced above, participants will have the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to a private screening of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Valencia Stadium 12 Theater.

In order to be eligible to win a ticket, library guests must participate in at least one activity, have a Santa Clarita Public Library card and be 13 years or older.

All events are sponsored by the Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library.  To learn more or to become a member, visit SantaClaritaFOL.com

Stay connected on all Hobbit Happenings by liking the Santa Clarita Public Library Facebook page or following the Twitter account.  For further information, visit the website or contact your local Santa Clarita Public Library branch.